Pepsi unveils bold new carbon challenge

18-Oct-2010 - Last updated on 19-Oct-2010 at 16:52 GMT

PepsiCo has unveiled a bold plan to slash the carbon and water impact of its core crops in the UK (potatoes, oats, apples) by 50% over the next five years.

The crisps, soft drinks and cereals firm, which has also set itself challenging group targets to reduce salt, sugar and saturated fat, will invest in research to identify the greenest ways to grow, irrigate, fertilise and store its raw materials.

The plan will involve replacing more than three-quarters of its potato stocks (destined for crisp production) with higher yielding varieties and using new technologies such as the i-crop crop online management system and the computerized carbon calculator Cool Farm Tool, which measures water inputs and carbon emissions.

Suppliers will also be encouraged to invest in more energy efficient machinery and explore renewable energy schemes from anaerobic digestion to wind turbines.

Bosses also unveiled an ambitious pledge to make all Walkers and Quaker packaging renewable, recyclable or biodegradable by 2018.